Out of the Past: 04/22/2026

100 Years Ago—

For many years Thomas Aspend (well-known barber) has been trying to teach people how to fish. Last Tuesday, he found a pupil he does not know how to grade, and he is still undecided whether to give her a fishing medal of the first class. Mr. and Mrs. Aspend and Miss Ollie Graham were at the lakes, and Mr. Aspend took Miss Graham on the rowboat to show her all about fishing. He had to divide his time between rowing the boat and explaining the secret of making trout adhere to the end of the little fish lines, which are used by sportsmen who have advanced beyond the stage of using a club. One fish was landed during the lesson, and then Mr. Aspend baited the hooks on two lines and left Miss Graham to do the rest. After rowing about the lake it was noted that no more fish were being netted. It was discouraging. The boat finally headed toward camp. At the landing the lines were drawn in and on each hook there was a dead fish.

75 Years Ago—

Alden Mathews of Kettle Falls was named juvenile officer for Pend Oreille and Stevens Counties by Judge W. Lon Johnson this week.

Spokane contractors offered to build the new 50-bed Mt. Carmel Hospital for $696,000, John O’Neilln building architect, announced in Spokane.

There’ll be no vehicle ferry service at Northport. North county residents will have to wait for completion of the new bridge.

Mrs. Evelyn J. Hawes, daughter of Judge and Mrs. W. Lon Johnson, is the writer of a story which will appear in this week’s issue of the Saturday Evening Post.  

50 Years Ago—

Frank Slagle Jr., representing the Colville Jaycees, was granted approval by the Colville City Council to begin construction of three park benches to be placed on Main Street.

A $1.6 million Mt. Carmel Hospital long range plan was unveiled Tuesday to members of the Colville Chamber of Commerce by Dr. Ed Gray and Sister Eva Sullivan, hospital administrator.  Gray opened with the new policy of the federal and state government, “that to keep a hospital in a local community it must be continually brought up to standards and must show a need in the community.”

Marie Hirsch, a junior at Kettle Falls High School, was crowned queen of the Northeast Washington Fair at the first annual fair pageant held last Friday at Fort Colville Grange.

25 Years Ago—

The energy crisis facing the northwest could hit Stevens County with exceptional force. Already facing a difficult market, magnesium producer Northwest Alloys, Inc., in Addy would effectively be shut down by the new rates the Bonneville Power Administration has proposed.

Northport High School is putting Northport on the map. Their six-member Destination Imagination team is off to Global Competition – for the fourth year in a row – to represent the entire state of Washington after taking first place at state competition.